Manufacture of playing-balls.



No. 785,184. y PATENTED MAR. 2l., 1905. A. T. SAUNDERS.

MANUFAGTURE OP PLAYING BALLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1903.

lUNITED STATES4 Patented March 21, 1905. l

PATENT' OFFICE.

AnnisoNT. snUNDERs, OF'AKRON, 01110'.

M'ANAul-Acrune oF PLAYING-BALLS.

"SPECIFICATION forming pm of Letters Patent No.

785,18-4, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed May'l, 1903. Serial No. 157,363.

To 4LIZ 'whom it may concern.: l

Be it known that I, ADDISON T. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, Aresiding at Akron,

- in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,

tures of my invention areequally applicable to and advantageous in connection'wthother kinds of playing-balls; of my invention is tol -through a novel process of manufacture which covering.

insures therein greater strength, durability, and responsiveness in the required ways to the various kinds of strokes and `impacts to which they are subjected in play.

More specifically,`a leading object of my invention is to-provide an improved ball of that variety used in the game of golf characterized by the possession of a pneumatic core and by a novel process of manufacture of said ball, and more particularly of-its compressed-air holding or retaining element or elements, to produce a ball which shall be characterized by a high degree of .resiliency under strokes which call into action `its pneumatic core, and bya capacity to maintain unimpaired and in uniform degree such resiliency th rough out the life of the ball. v

In carrying out the object of my invention I provide the ball with an inner air-retaining core or shell of a novel composition material, which I have found absolute imperviousness to compressed air, and in association therewith employ certain materials to form the intermediate shell or. body portion of the ball and a wear-resisting and such a ball, as an article of manufacture, constitutes the subject-matter ofa companion application filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 157 ,362.

My present invention, in contradistinction to the article itself, relates to a novel process of manufacturel through the ycarrying out of which myZ improved playing-balls may be produced, and in the accompanying drawings and the subjoined description thereof I have set and the general object,` produce a playing-ball the heavy' by experience to possess forth a golf-ball, illustrating 'and describing in connection therewith the various operations I and steps which I employ in carrying out the complete manufacture of the said ball. 'Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central transverse sectional view through a ball made in accordance with my present process of manufacture; and Fig. -2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in broken section, of the same.

Proceeding to a detail description of the process of manufacture under and by which I produce the new and improved ball 'shown-in j thedrawings. itl may be premised that the innermost member of the ball, which owlng to its pneumatic character constitutes a very 1mportant element thereof, is composed of a compound of gelatin, preferably gelatin and glycerin,to which is added a percentageof albumen, which latter by virtue of its action in coagulating above certain temperatures imparts to the other ingredients of the. compound stability and permanency of format temperatures' under which they would otherwise melt. The compound referred to as forming this air-tight envelop of gelatin and glycerin or gelatin, glycerin, and albumen constitutes the subject-matter of two applications heretofore filed by me onfthe 22d, day of April, 1903,-.Serial N os. '153,750 and 153,751, and for the purposes of this application it will suflce to say that for the'formation of this air-tight envelop I preferably mold from a sheet of the air-proof compound a pair of hollow hemispherical segments by pressing the required amount of the sheeted compound heated to about 130C Fahrenheit 1n a suitable mold, removing the hemispherical segments when cold, and then joining the two together, preferably by heating their edges through contact with a hot plate "and then bringing them into contact, thus forming a hollow spherewhich is indicated in the draw- .ings by the reference-numeral 5. I next 1nclo's'e this shell in a spherical layer of rubber formed of two segments, each somewhat eX- ceeding a hollow hemisphere, so that their `k edge portions, tapered or beveled for that purpose, may overlap, together making the same y thicknessasthe rest of the layer. Having mold, being spherical without as Well as within, is then tumbled upon a heated plate with these objects and results. As the temperature of the gelatin member rises it softens and sets itself upon the inner surfaceof the rubber member, adhering thereto, and the seam or line of junction of the gelatin heals perfectly, making-a continuous seamless air-tight inner Wall. If desired, as an optional stepY in the process of manufacture the gelatin-compound core may be made continuous and seamless by tumbling the two halves in a spherical mold on a heated surface independent of the rubber segments which overlie it and previous to inclosing it therein. The expansion of the contained air under the effect of the heat presses the core outward upon the inner surface of the spherical mold, so that the core as a whole is reset to this form, correcting any slight distor-tion in the previous laying of the parts. Theeven tumbling of the spherical mold and its contents prevents the running or displacement of the gelatin compound While in a iiowing state, and the tumbling is continued until the albu men in the gelatin compound is coagulated by the heat. This renders the compound non-fluent not only under this degree of heat, but in the subsequent operation of curing on the cover. The office of this layer or shell of rubber (designated by 6) is to' prevent the gelatin compound from being forced out through or into th'e interstices of the Wall of fiber by the compressed air when charged therewith and also to strengthen and support the gelatin core against the compressing action of the yarn in the winding operation. As will be readily understood, this layer adds in proportion to its thickness and resilient character to the resiliency vof the ball, acting in harmony with the compressed air, by which it is supported when the ball is charged therewith, and it is therefore practicable to vary the responsiveness of balls to various impacts by varying the character of this layer and its thickness relative to other portions, care being had to so regulate the gravity of those portions where there is a latitude in that quality as to produce a' ball of the desired gravity. The tumbling operation having been completed, the spherical mold is then cooled and the core removed. The cementing together of the overlapping annular flaps may be postponed until after the tumbling, if desired, in which case it is new done. The core is next coated witha thin covering of glue containing just sufficient glycerin to prevent its being `brittlewhen dry.` This coating is indicated -the interstices between the threads.

in the drawings at 7 and serves the double pur-pose of preventing the benzin of the rubber cement or compound used in the subsel quent operation of winding from penetrating thel rubber-compound member of the' core and of further stiiiening the core for the winding. `After this coat of glue is dry the core as thus far formed is Wound with a cotton yarn, which during the winding operation is laid'in rubber cement or compound consisting preferably of caoutchouc, benzin, and litharge, mixedin about the proportions of ten pounds'caoutchouc, thirteen gallons benzin, and nine pounds litharge. It may be noted that the office of the litharge is to afford the required weight and4 also body tlc till t is evident that other minerals may of course be used for this purpose, while the'ingredients of the cement may vary in relative amounts and in total amount used according to the desired rigidity to be imparted to the fibrous wall. The cement should lie freely enough, however, to makel an` eective filling of the yarn and to form a union with a layer of quick-curing cement, which is next laid on to insure a firm adhesion of the cover, this layer being indicated at 9 in the drawings. This body of cement-filled fiber is designated at 8 and, as will be seen, constitutes in a golfball the principal and major portion of the body or shell of the bali. When the cement or compound used in the winding is practically dry, the partially-'finished ball is charged highly with compressed air, which charging lOO operation is preferably performed through the agency of a hypodermic needle attached to a suitable source of pressure, such as a compressed-air reservoir of large capacity relatively to the capacity of -the core of the ball, the needle being preferably entered obliquely, so that when withdrawn the internal pressure of the air may the more effectively close the puncture in the gelatin compound, which it does instantly. The compound is self-sealing under the heavy pressure and holds the air indelintely. It may be remarked in this connection that it is practicable to use a gelatin compound of a greater stiffness than will seal cold (this greater stiffness being desirable in strengthening the core against the compressing action of the winding, as above describedlby warniing the ball suiciently to soften the gelatin compound just prior to and for this charging operation, such warming bringing it to the same self-sealing condition which it has cold when compounded less stiff. The charged ball is next surrounded by a layer or layers of rubber compound to. form the outer cover, this latter, united to the mass of yarn laid in cement, being brought into surer union by being rolled under pressure, whereby any air which may lie between the surface of the winding and the raw cover is thus forced out at the seams or When 'it show's as blisters may be IIO gotten rid of by puncturing the'coverto release it. The rubber-compound cover is then cured by being subjected to pressure in a heated mold of perfect internal sphericity and pebbled or brambled according tothe desired external finish to be given to the ball. The cover-stock should preferably be quick-curing and only slightly resilient, the best results being obtained where it is practically dead. This deadness of the cover-stock may be btained by a suitable admixture of the usual minerals. The rubber Icover thus formed is indicated at v in the drawings.

During the curing'on of the cover the heat employed therefor softens theV inner gelatin air-holding envelop somewhat, whereby the needle puncture in addition to having been mechanically pressed shut is perfectly healed, making the air-envelop continuous and unbroken throughout. I

One advantage of employing a quick-curing compound for the cover is that the strength of the fibrous-wound portion is less impaired than'in a long heat. Another advantage lies in the fact that the heat is not sufiicient or sufiicientl y long maintained to impair or burn theheat as nearly as -or cover to be cured, the mold is heated be- ,the'gelatin member. To confine the effect of possible to the surface fore the ball is placed therein.v

Finally the ball is treated to a surface-covering of paint, preferably White, (indicated at 11,) as is usual with golf-balls, to give the ball a complete and finished appearance and to enable it to be more readily seen and found in play. y

In a pending application filed by me on the 11th day of August, 1902, Serial No. 119,242, on a new andimproved process in producing playing-balls I have disclosed a process of manufacture characterized principally by the formation of a body and outer covering around an internal spherical hollow shell of rubber and the rendering of' said rubber shell airtight by the introduction to the latter of sealing material in fluent form, which is distributed over the inner surface by a tumblingoperation to form an impervious coating or lining for said shell. My present invention is distinguished therefrom principally in the entire omission of the last-mentioned operation,- owing to the fact that -the, shell constituting the core is in the present case produced from Vmaterial which is in itself air-proof without requiring a surface sealing or coating` thereon. My present invention in minor respects presents also improvements in the manner of assembling and applying the intermediate body portion and the outer wear-resisting covering. V

I` claim- 1. Ina process of producing playing-balls, the following operations which consist in in- -closing within a hollow sphere of suitable material a lining of air-proof material in a nonfiowing state, heating-said sphere, and tumbling the same while hot, substantially as'described. l

2. In a process of producing playing-balls,

. the following operations which consist in surrounding a lining of air-proof material in a n' non-flowing state with a number of segments of rubber or other suitable material having g their meeting edges beveled-or graduated so as to overlap and form a hollow sphere having walls of uniform thickness, inclosing this sphere in a suitable mold, and tumbling the same While hot, substantially as described.

3'. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in forming a unitary air-proof hollow sphere from suitable material, Winding about said sphere a shell constituting the body portionof the ball, then charging said inner shell with an aeriform fiuid under pressure,

`and finally surrounding said shell by a Wearresisting covering.

4. A process in producing playingballs which consists in molding a unitary air-proof hollow sphere from suitable material, winding about the same a fibrous shell constituting the body portion of the ball, and charging said inner shell with an aeriform fiuid under pressure,'and nally curing upon said shell an outer wear-resisting covering.

5. A process in producing playingballs which consists in molding a pair of hollow hemispheres from suitable air-proofmaterial,

then uniting said hemispheres by edgewise adhesion, then winding aboutthe unitary sphere thus formed a fibrous shell, then charglng the inner air-proof sphere with an aeriform fluid under pressure, and finally applying to said fibrous shell awear-resisting covering.

6. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in forming a unitary air-proof hollow sphere from suitable material, surrounding said sphere by a form-retaining envelop, winding about said envelop a fibrous shell, charging the ball thus formed with air under pressure, and finally applying thereto an outer wear-resisting covering.

7.. A process in producing playing-balls` which consists in molding a unitary air-proof hollow sphere from suitable material, surrounding said sphere by a form-retaining envelop, winding about said envelop a fibrous Qhell, incorporating into the latter during the Winding operation an adhering and weightgiving substance, chargingV the ball thus formed with air under pressure, 'and' finally applying thereto an outer wear-resisting covering.

- 8. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in molding a hollow sphere from suitable air-proof material, surroundlng said sphere by a form-retaining envelop, tumbling the core thusformed on' a hot surface to cause the inner sphere and its envelop to adhere, applying to the stiffened core a shell and a wear-resisting covering, and chargmg IOO IIO

said hollow sphere during the process of manu facture with air under pressure.

9. A process in producing playing balls which consists in molding a pair of hollow hemispheres from suitable air-proofmaterial, placing them edge to edge and inclosing them in a stiiened envelop, tumbling the core thus formed upon a hot surface to adhere the edges ofthe hemispheres and the contacting surfaces ofthe latter and the envelop, applying to the stiffened core a shell and a wear-resistlng covering, and inflating the hollow sphere during the process of manufacture.

l0. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in molding a pair of hollow hemispheres from suitable air-proof material, placing them edge to edge and inclosing them in a stitfened envelop, tumbling the core thus formed upon a hot surface, applying to said envelop agelatinous coating, winding about the latter a fibrous shell and simultaneously incorporating into the latter an adhering and weight-giving substance, charging the ball thus formed with ai-r under pressure, and finally applying to the fibrous shell an outer wear-resisting covering.

. 1l. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in molding a pair of' hollow hemispheres from suitable air-proof material,

placing them edge to edge and inclosing them 1n a stiifened envelop, tumbling the core .thus

formed upon a hot surface, applying to said envelop a gelatinous coating, winding about the latter a fibrous shell and simultaneously incorporating into the latter an adhering and weight-giving substance, charging the ball thus formed with air under pressure, laying upon the surface of' said fibrous shell sheets of rubber compound, and finally curing the latter on under pressure and heat.

12. A process in producing playing-balls which consists in molding a pair of hollow hemispheres from suitable air-proof material, softening their edges by heat and adhering them vto form aunitary hollow sphere, inclosing said sphere in a stiened envelop, tumbling the core thus formed upon a hot surface, coating said envelop with a gelatinous substance, winding about the latter a fibrous shell and simultaneously incorporating therewith an adhering and Weight-giving substance, surrounding the latter with a coating of quickcuring cement, inflating the ball thus formed with air under pressure, applying to the outer surface thereof layers of wear-resisting material, and finally curing the latter on under the combined action of pressure and heat.

ADDIsoN rr. sAUNDERs.

Witnesses:

W. W. WALLACE, F. E. WALLACE. 

